Former Department of Driver Services (DDS) license examiner Frederick Lawson pleaded guilty yesterday in DeKalb Superior Court to six counts of Bribery (O.C.G.A. § 16-10-2) and six counts of False Statement (O.C.G.A. § 16-10-20) in connection with his furnishing of fraudulent I.D. cards to Lamondi Benton. Benton also pleaded guilty to two counts of False Statement after the commencement of jury selection.

An investigation began with Benton obtaining a false identification card on February 12, 2010, in the name of Joyce Williams. A routine facial recognition search matched her with several suspicious identification documents, eventually leading to the discovery of ten identification cards and one driver’s license with dates of issuance going back to July 5, 2008. Further investigation revealed that six of the documents were issued by Lawson, who, when interviewed, admitted having been solicited by Benton and paid to produce the last six false identification cards for her.

Judge Daniel Coursey sentenced each to six years: one in prison and five on probation. In addition, Lawson, who was sentenced under the First Offender Act, was ordered to pay a fine of $3000.00, and Benton was ordered to pay a fine of $1000.00. Both are to report for the service of their prison sentence on May 3, 2013.

Assistant Attorney General Daniel A. Hiatt prosecuted the case on behalf of the State of Georgia. The case was investigated by Investigator Anthony Knotts and former Investigator Stephanie Brown of DDS.